Sorting apparatus



April 20, 1937- c. M. PIERCE l 2,077,851

soR'TING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 28 BY ia /0JM@ L am? April 20, 1937. Q M- MERCE 2,077,851

SORTING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,672117465977, fierce Patented Apr. 20, 1937 SORTING APPARATUS Charles M.Pierce, Detroit, Mich.; Loduskia Pierce executrix of said Charles M.Pierce,

deceased Application July 27, 1934, Serial No. 737,266

7 Claims.

This invention relates to selecting and sorting devices forcoin-controlled mechanisms and the like, and has for a particular objectthe provision of apparatus improved in sensitivity, eiciency,compactness and cost, for detecting and rejecting slugs or impropercoins and for passing proper coins to a predetermined receptacle ormechanism.

Another important object of my invention lies in the provision of suchsorting mechanism which is not only of extremely simple and sturdyconstruction but so compact, particularly in one dimension; that severalcomplete sorting units may be installed in a relatively narrow andconned f space.

A further object is the provision in such apparatus of a rotatableselecting element constituting an improvement upon that disclosed in mypreviously led application Serial No. 688,596, led September 8, 1933,particularly in that all possibility of clogging such element, either bythe insertion in rapid succession of a number of slugs or impropercoins, or by the insertion of an extremely light slug of insuliicientweight to discharge itself from the wheel, is eliminated.

Still another object is the provision of means constituting animprovement upon the apparatus disclosed in said previous applicationadapted to and rejected coins, inasmuch as occasionally a coin or slugis encountered which is of the precise Weight represented by thepositioning of the partition, as a result of which, particularly if thepath down which such coin and slugV elements pass is inclined sidewise,it is apt to fall directly and lodge upon the partition in such manneras to hang in such position and enter neither path.

Still further my present invention aims to provide improved means foradjusting and controlling the operation of the selecting element, andfor rejecting undersized coins and slugs independently of the selectingelement.

A still further object is the provision of improved means for assemblinga plurality of such selecting devices in a unitary construction ofcompact nature adapted to afford means whereby coins of differentdenominations may be sorted Other objects and advantages will beapparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to,the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of myinvention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similarpartsthroughout the several Views.

In the drawings:

Figures l and 2 are front and side elevational views respectively of apay station telephone instrument serving as an illustrative example of acoin-controlled device incorporating my improved slug-rejectingmechanism, and indicating the positioning oi such mechanism therein;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the upper portion of theinstrument, showing one face of my improved slug-rejecting mechanism inelevation;

Figure 4 is an edge view of the slug-rejecting echanism, removed fromthe casing;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are elevational views of one face ci such mechanismwith the face plate removed, taken substantially on the line 5-5 ofFigure `4 and looking in the direction of the arrows, progressivelyshowing the travel therethrough of both a proper coin and an underweightslug, and illustrating the manner in which they are separated and theone delivered to the coin-receiving chute while the other is rejected;

Figure 8 is an elevation ofv the opposite face of the slug-rejectingmechanism removed from the casing, taken looking substantially asindicated bythe arrow 8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a view of` the same face with the cover plate removed andcorresponding to Figure 5 in its showing of the opposite face;

Figure 10 is a transverse section taken substantially on line lll- I8 ofFigure 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figures 1l, 12 and 13 are elevational views of the interior, with theface plate removed, similar to Figures 5, 6 and 7 but showing the mannerin which the apparatus is cleared and reset at the next actuation afteran extremely light slug whose weight is insuiiicient to enable it todischarge itself has been fed into the machine-and lodged in the wheel;and

Figure 14 is an enlarged detail of the partitioning and delecting means.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character 28 designates thecasing of a pay telephone instrument, with which my improvedslug-rejecting means is for illustrative purposes shown associated. Itwill be recognized, however, that my apparatus is equally utilizable inconjunction with other and indeed virtually any coin-controlledapparatus, and that if desired it may be used purely for the purpose ofsorting coins-the telephone instrument having been selected by way ofillustration because, since very little space is available in suchinstruments for installation of slug-rejecting mechanisms, itillustrates the compactness of construction intowhich my invention maybe embodied.

At the top of the telephone instrument is shown a coin gauge 2l havineopenings adapted to receive coins of the proper sizes, which openingsordinarily form the tops of chutes for conducting the coins to theoperating mechanism and thence to the cash box (22) Within the casingand in the path of travel of such coins I provide a sorting assembly ofrelatively flat construction. In the construction shown, two completesorting devices are provided, one for sorting each of the most commonlyimitated coins, although it will be readily perceived that if desiredthree such units might be similarly assembled, or one only provided. Theassembly is supported and the coin chutes and certain other parts aredened by the coniiguration of metal plates, which are assembled instacked relation, as by means of screws 23. The assembly incorporates acentral plate, as 22, Yforming the main support, to and on oppositesides of which are arranged chute plates 2li-J3, which are cut out toform the coin chutes, presently to be described, while outside each ofthese is a face plate as 25-21. All such plates are apertured as at 3i!to receive and permit free rotation of the sorting discs S55-36d. Eachof plates 25-28 is cut out to form a chute, as at t-Sa, the chutes beingconnected at their upper ends to the pockets in the coin gauge andserving to conduct coins and slugs to the rotatable sorting elements3GB-35a. Each of these chutes will also be seen to be so bent back uponitself as to eliminate any spin which may have been imparted to the coinupon its insertion. The selector elements {i6- 35a are formed as discsshown as built of spaced circular plates, the central spacing elementbeing cut out as at Sii-5ta to provide pockets adapted to receive coinsand slugs fed thereinto, and are carried by shafts lil- Ma respectively,which are provided with needle point bearings rendering the discsrotatable with a minimum of friction, the outer bearings being carriedby supporting brackets iS-58a mounted on face plates 21-25, while theinner bearings may be carried by a single central bracket projectingbetween the selector discs and in substantially the same plane ascentral plate 22, or separate brackets may be used to assist assemblyand enable separation of the sections while preserving each intact. Thecentral bearing bracket, designated 49, may also be supported from oneface plate, as with bracket 48a, as shown in Figure 10.

Hair counterbalance springs lill-Qta, tend to return each disc to anormal rest position which is determined by engagement of stop pinstil-lila with adjustable stops i2-Q2u. Rotative movement of the discs inthe other direction is limited by stop springs E53- 63m also engageableby said pins to limit the travel of the discs, while springs Gti-63aalso serve as return kickers, tending to throw the discs rapidly in thereverse direction when the latter are actuated with such severity thatthe pins strike such springs hard enough to .As best shown in Figures 8and eX them. The instrument is so adjusted that the impulse imparted tothe disc by an overweight slug is suilcient to cause such reversekicking of the disc. Springs E53-53a are adjustably carried by screws64-6la, rotatably mounted in brackets SS-Sia projecting from the faceplates.

The stops l2-42a are so situated that when each disc is in the normalrest position, with its stop pin against abutment 4l or Ala, one of thecoin-receiving slots or pockets, as Sti-50a, is aligned with theadjacent inlet chute Sil or 30a in such manner as to receive a cointherefrom. The hub portion 5l-5Ia of each wheel is so positioned withrespect to the outlet of the appurtenant chute that coins are forced tostrike the hub while traveling in a radial path with respect to thewheel before dropping into the pocket. The provision of the return bendsin the delivery chutes in combination with the arrangement of the hubsin the aforementioned manner is such that coins are introduced into thediscs at a predetermined velocity with relation to their weight, and ineiect dropped from a predetermined height into the pocket, and cannot bybeing thrown, pushed or snapped, be made to impact the disc at greaterthan the fixed velocity. The adjustment of the parts, including thepartitioning element presently to be described, is such that a propercoin suiciently overcomes the resistance of the spring to rotate thewheel far enough to carry the coin beyond the partition member, (52-52a)while if a lighter coin or slug be so inserted in one of the chutes andfall into the pocket of the selector wheel, its lesser mass and impactwill be insufficient to rotate the wheel far enough to carry the coinbeyond the partition, and such spurious coin will fall from the discupon the nearer side of tho partition and be directed to receiving chute60, whence it is guided into the coin return boX 62 (iirst passingthrough opening 54 in the case of disc 36) A proper coin, introducedinto chute 3B and falling from disc 38 to the left of partition 52, asviewed in Figures 5-'7 and ll-13, is conducted first to the bell 24,through chute 32, and thence.

to the coin release mechanism, generally designated 55 in Figure 2,through chute portion 33.

It will be recognized that in Figures 5-7 and 9-13, the face plates25-21 being removed, the chutes are shown as if open on one side,whereas they would actually be closed by such plates, and that thepockets in the discs may also be closed on both sides. Similar actionoccurs when a proper coin is cleared by the disc 350, and drops to theright of partition 52a as viewed in Figure 9. The coin then rst strikesgong 54a and thereafter travels to the coin released mechanism throughchute 33a.

The manner in which a proper coin, as 5S nds its way through theapparatus in the manner described is clearly illustrated in Figures 5 to7, and it will be seen to be only necessary that the resistance or" thehair'spring l0 be so adjusted to the weight of a proper coin that suchcoins are but slightly heavier than the weight required to make the discstop directly over the partition, to render such coins just able to turnthe selector wheel far enough beyond the partition so that such propercoins may fall upon the farther side of the dividing member 52, toinsure that all coins or slugs lighter than such proper coins will becast to the right of the dividing member and so delivered to therejector chute 6E. i4, partition members 52-52a are adjustably carriedby adjusting screws @E Sa, and the partition element proper ispreferably formed of spring material, of such gauge as to be freelyexible under the impact of a coin or slug, as a result of which coinsstriking such partition are bounced, and their delivery to one side orthe other is thus insured even though they fall directly upon it. Sincethe entire selector mechanism may be inclined from the vertical, as bestshown in Figure 2, so that the coins tend to rest against one of theside plates dening the chutes, the bouncing action is particularlyadvantageous in preventing the resting of a coin against the partitionin the lodged 'position in which it might be maintained with greaterease by reason of such inclination.

The selector wheels are of course preferably of light construction andvery freely rotatable, and the coin-receiving pockets as '5t-59a thereinare so contoured that centrifugal force generated by a coin during itsrotation with the disc assists in revolving it, and that after the wheelhas turned through a suflicient angle, greater than 90, a contained coinis free to roll out of the pocket upon whichever side of the partitionit may come substantially to rest with the stopping of the disc.

Each disc is shown provided with two oppositely disposed pockets, whichmay be identical, not only to preserve the balance of the disc but toenable turning it a half revolution, and so bringing the other pocketinto use, if wear from continued use affects the shape of the nose ortoe of the pocket over which the coin rolls. Each pocket is preferablycircular and of approximate size to receive the intended coin desired tobe accepted by the disc. The circular retaining portion of the pockets,further, extends suciently far around the coin when held therein toprevent the coin from rolling from the pocket until the disc has turnedthrough a relatively large angle exceeding ninety degrees, and to thepoint at which coins of a given Weight are intended to be discharged. Itwill also be seen that by reason of the substantially diametricallyopposed disposition and relatively thin character of the arms formingthe coin-pockets, approximately half the disc is open to receive coinsor slugs introduced into the machine. By reason of this arrangement, theintroduction of a very light slug which is unable to turn the wheel farenough to discharge itself, does not clog the machine, as the next coinor slug element either falls upon the rim of the rst and quicklydischarges itself into the reject chute before the disc has turned tothe usual extent, or falls into the pocket beside the rst, in whichevent the added impetus thus given the disc can virtually never, as apractical matter, be the .exactly proper one required to turn the wheelto and discharge the load at the accept side of the partition element52, so that both elements are either discharged by the underweightreject means above described or thrown out the reject slot by theoverweight return mechanism presently to be described.

The resilient stop and kicker springs 63--63a with which each wheel isprovided is so positioned, though adjustably held by screws Gli-54a,that when the disc is rotated farther than the Weight of an ordinarycoin of the proper variety is capable of rotating it, the stop pinstrikes the spring, which returns the disc so rapidly as to push throwthe coin in the reverse direction before it can clear the disc, thusforcing it to fall into the same reject chute 60 as underweight coins.

The assembly being intended for installation in inclined position,undersize release openings may be formed in the chutes Bil-3de. as ,at'I0-ma respectively if desired, through which undersize coins may fallwithout passing through the sorting means, although this is of courseoptional. Guiding means is provided such as the plate 'H for conductingsuch coins or slugs into the same coin return box 52.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of myinvention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfill thecbjects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that theinvention is susceptible to variation, modification and change withinthe spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination with coinfeeding means, selecting means comprising a rotatable coin receivingelement of low inertia and initial resistance to turning moment,rotatable through more than 99 degrees and having a pocket thereingreater than 9i) degrees but less than 180 in extent adapted to receiveand hold coins delivered thereto, spring--counterbalancing means forsaid element, means for projecting coins into said pocket and against aportion of said element, and means for segregating coins in accordancewith a partition .against which `coins may fall from said elementyieldable in the direction in which the coins fall and adapted to give areverse impetus thereto when xed.

2. In a device of the character described, selecting means including aAcounterbalanced rotatable selecting member from which coin elements andthe' like subjected to test, fall at different points along its path ofmovement in response to dierences of mass of such elements under test,inclined means for directing such falling elements in axially tiltedposition in a non-vertical path, separate receiving means for suchelements of different masses, and partitioning and deilecting meansappurtenant said inclined directing means and defining a line of partingbetween the paths of coin travel to said receiving means, saidpartitioning and defiecting means being yieldable in the direction inwhich such coin elements travel.

3. In a device of the character described, selecting means including acounterbalanced rotatable selecting member from which coin elements andthe like subjected to test fall at different points along its path ofmovement in response to differences of mass of such elements, separatereceiving means for such elements of different masses, inclined guidemeans for directing the fall of said elements while maintaining themaxially tipped, and partitioning and deflecting means defining a line ofparting between the paths of travel of coin elements of `differentmasses passing along said guide means,

to direct said elements to different ones of said receiving means, saidpartitioning and defiecting means being yieldable in the direction inwhich such coin elements fall, means for regulating the positioning ofsaid partitioning and deiiecting means, and means for varying thecounterweight of said selecting member.

4. In a device of the character described, a selecting element of slightmass relatively to normal objects to be tested rotatable through asubstantial fraction of a full revolution, spring counterbalancing meansfor said element, a support for loads under test carried by said elementand having a curved concaved supporting portion adapted to blockmovement of the load from said element during a portion of therevolution thereof and to permit rolling of the load off said element ina relative position dependent upon the load, and means for segregatingobjects in accordance with the position in which they roll from saidelement.

5. In a device of the character described, a rotatable selectingelement, supporting means carried by said element for sustaining thereonrollable articles to be tested, said supporting means including a curvedconcaved coin holding portion outlying an article under test loaded uponsaid supporting means, said outlying portion blocking rolling movementof such loaded articles from said element during a portion of normalactuative rotative movement thereof and projecting backward in adirection opposite to that of normal rotation of said element, means fordelivering rollable articles to be tested to said element in such manneras to actuate the element With a severity dependent upon the mass of theload, said element being of slight mass and mounted to o'er slightresistance to turning moment, spring means yieldably resisting rotationof said element and so proportioned to the masses or normal loads towhich the device is desired to be subjected that said element is free toturn under actuation thereby suf'ciently far to permit the load to rollover `said projecting portion and from the element, and means forsegregating objects in accordance with the position at which they rollfrom said element, whereby the point in the path of movement of saidelement Whereat a load is freed to roll therefrom is dependent upon theimpulse imparted to the clement thereby and so upon the mass of theload, and whereby during rotation of said element the centrifugal forceof a load is applied through said backwardly projecting portion toaugment the turning moment applied to said element. V

6. In a device of the character described, a rotatable selecting elementof slight mass, spring counterbalancing means for said element,supporting means carried by said element for sustaining thereon rollablearticles to be tested,

said supporting means including a backwardly' curved portion outlying anarticle under test loaded upon said supporting means, said outlyingportion blocking rolling movement of such loaded articles from saidelement during a portion of a normal actuative rotative movementthereof, means for delivering rollable articles toy be tested to saidelement at an elevated position and in such manner as to actuate saidelement With a severity dependent upon the mass of the load, saidelement Vbeing sufficiently rotatable and the spring means beingproportioned to permit normal loads to travel through a position inwhich the load lies directly beneath the axis of the element, wherebysaid loads may roll from the element at different positions inaccordance with their mass, and means for segregating loads inaccordance with the position at Which they roll from said element.

7. In a device of the character described, a rotatable selecting elementof slight mass, spring counterbalancing means for said element,supporting means carried by said element for sustaining thereon rollablearticles to be tested, said supporting means including a backwardlycurved portion outlying an article under test loaded upon saidsupporting means, the outlying portion being positioned to block rollingmovement of such loaded articles from said element during a portion of anormal actuative rotative `movement thereof, means for deliveringrollable articles to be tested to said element at an elevated positionand in such manner as to actuate said element with a severity dependentupon the mass of the load, said element being suiiiciently rotatable andthe spring means being proportioned to permit normal loads to travelthrough a position in which the load lies directly beneath the axis ofrotation of the element, the outlying blocking portion being movable toa position of non-interference with rolling of a loaded article fromsaid element When the load reaches such position beneath the axis, andmeans for segregating loaded articles in accordance with the position atwhich they roll from the selecting element.

CHARLES M. PIERCE.

